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Cork suspension mars advance to semi-final

Monday 16th April 2007, 9:40 pm

Colin O'Brien, Cork City.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Cork City may have got their job done tonight by advancing to the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup but manager Damien Richardson showed a bizarre lack of judgement as he introduced Roy O'Donovan for the last thirty minutes of the game, despite leading 2-0 at the time in a fixture they merely needed to avoid losing by seven goals. O'Donovan, joint top scorer in the competition, went into the game walking the suspension tight-rope having been booked in Cork's away loss to St. Pats. The striker was duly booked on 78 minutes and now misses the semi-final.

Any thoughts of a nervous night at the Cross were banished within four minutes when Colin O'Brien headed City in front from Ray Lally's pin-point corner kick from the left side. Dungannon didn't cover themselves in glory in the build-up to the goal and City won the corner kick after a mix-up between Gary Fitzpatrick and goalkeeper David Wells while the marking from the flag kick was almost non-existent.

The home side really should have added to their tally quickly after breaking the deadlock. Denis Behan's shot looked to have taken a deflection on ten minutes but no corner was awarded after a little piece of skill saw the striker flick the ball up and fire in a shot. John O'Flynn should have made it 2-0 on 18 minutes when he was played in one-on-one with Wells but the keeper was equal to a tame shot at goal.

The competition's all-time top scorers Behan was hunting for more goals and saw a near post shot saved after 20 minutes. Cathal Lordan fired over from a good position just a minute later after O'Flynn headed down Billy Woods' cross. The Swifts were coming into the game a little more but one of their attacks almost handed Cork a second. Rodney McAree was crowded out as he tried to run into the Cork box and after taking the ball away, Woods sent the ball long upfield for Behan who again didn't get the corner he deserved after forcing a fine save from Wells.

O'Flynn should have done better on the half hour but failed to direct his shot on goal after Dan Murray had headed the ball back across goal. Rory Hamill fired wide for Dungannon after cutting inside but Cork were to extend their lead seconds later.

Behan powered home a header to make it 2-0 as he connected with and directed home Cathal Lordan's cross from the right.

Dungannon came out livelier in the second period but had to be on their toes at the back when Brian O'Callaghan threatened to break in on goal, McAree managed to just slide the ball away from the Cork defender in time. A disappointing night in front of goal continued for O'Flynn when he headed down and wide from O'Brien's cross in a perfect position.

Dungannon got a goal back following a 64th minute free kick. After they moved the ball from the set-piece, Shane McCabe drilled in a low shot with a massive deflection off Cork's Murray taking the ball on its way past Mark McNulty to make it 2-1.

O'Donovan forced a good save from Wells after another good cross into the box, this time from Cillian Lordan. At the other end Paul Baron might have drawn matters level but instead scuffed his shot from Mark McAllister's low cross.

Dungannon keeper Wells fell victim to a poor decision from the officials in the closing ten minutes which saw him red carded. Chasing out for a Cork through ball, the keeper seemed to time his decision perfectly, allowing the ball run into his box before grabbing hold of it. However, the officials saw differently and the red card effectively ended any action in the tie.

Cork now plan for an away semi-final, most likely against Linfield while Dungannon have been competitive in the competition unlike two of their Irish League counterparts and can now look forward to their first appearance in an Irish Cup final.

Cork City : McNulty, Cillian Lordan, Woods, Murray, O'Callaghan, Daly (O'DOnovan 62), O'Brien, Cathal Lordan (Murphy 88), Lally, O'Flynn, Behan (Caulfield 86).
Dungannon Swifts : Wells, McConkey, McMinn, G Fitzpatrick, Gallagher (Nelson 83), Hamill, McCabe, McAree (McNanus 62), T Fitzpatrick, Everaldo (Baron 46), McAllister